Japan-Australia Relations
Japan-Australia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
September 19, 2023
On September 19, commencing at 5 p.m. local time (on September 20, at 6 a.m. JST) for approximately 30 minutes, Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who was visiting New York to attend the Seventy-Eight Session of the United Nations General Assembly, held a meeting with Senator the Hon. Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Commonwealth of Australia. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
- At the outset, Minister Wong offered her congratulations to Minister Kamikawa on her appointment as Foreign Minister. In response, Minister Kamikawa stated that Australia is an invaluable friend for Japan and that the two countries are working as the central pillar of coordination among like-minded countries in the region. Minister Kamikawa also stated that she looks forward to working closely with Minister Wong to further deepen the "Special Strategic Partnership" between Japan and Australia as well as to realize a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific.”
- The two ministers welcomed that joint exercises have been conducted under the Japan-Australia Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) that entered into force last month. The two ministers also concurred on strengthening Japan-Australia security cooperation in a wide range of areas, guided by the new Japan-Australia Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation.
- The two ministers reaffirmed the importance of Japan-Australia cooperation in the field of resources and energy.
- The two ministers exchanged views on ALPS treated water and concurred on importance of continuous engagement with countries concerned, based on scientific evidence.